Question Without Notice No. 173 asked in the Legislative Council on 28 March 2018 by Hon Donna Faragher
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
173. Hon DONNA FARAGHER to the Minister for Education and Training:
I refer to kindergarten classes.
(1) How many kindergarten classes within the government school sector —
(a) operated with fewer than 16 students in 2017; and
(b) are currently operating with fewer than 16 students in 2018?
(2) How many community kindergartens —
(a) operated with fewer than 16 students in 2017; and
(b) are currently operating with fewer than 16 students in 2018?
(3) Can the minister confirm that community kindergartens must notify the Department of Education by the fourth Friday of term 3, 2018, that they have 16 confirmed enrolments in order to secure their annual operating grant and staff?
(4) If yes to (3), should a community kindergarten not meet the required enrolments by the deadline, is there an opportunity for the kindergarten to accept late enrolments before a final decision is made as to whether an annual operating grant and staff will be provided in 2019; and, if not, why not?
Hon SUE ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) Class sizes are collected in February and may change after data is collected. The number of kindergarten classes cited does not include mixed classes—straight classes; for example, mixed kindergarten and pre-primary, and —
(a) there were 106 out of 1 114 kindergarten classes; and
(b) there were 86 out of 1 135 kindergarten classes.
(2) There were —
(a) four out of 17 community kindergartens; and
(b) four out of 17 community kindergartens.
(3)–(4) The closing date for kindergarten enrolments for all public schools and community kindergartens is 20 July 2018. Community kindergartens are required to provide confirmed enrolments for the following year by 10 August 2018, three weeks after the closing date for enrolments. When a community kindergarten has fewer than the required projected enrolments, the department will consider an extension on a case-by-case basis. This is normal practice.